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Saturday, December 31, 2011

I saw this tag on Miss Dashwood's blog (who first got it from Charity) and as they both tagged anyone who wanted to do this, I thought I would. The rules are very simple: you have to choose twelve characters and then answer the questions about them.

And the first question is:1: Who would make a better college professor: 6 (Davy Keith) or 11 (Mr. Collins)?
Certainly not Mr. Collins! A grown up Davy might do a pretty good job; he'd make his students laugh, although I'm not sure if he'd teach them anything.2: 12 (Esther Summerson) sends 8 (Marguerite Blakeney) out on a mission. What is it? Does it succeed?
Esther sends Marguerite to help the Jellyby children and of course she manages, with the help of a great deal of candy and sending Mrs. Jellyby off to Africa on a charitable mission.

3: What is, or would be 9 (Sydney Carton)'s favorite book?
I have no clue, perhaps something with very heroic heroes that make him feel even more useless, although he doesn't strike me as the reading type.4: Would it make more sense for 2 (Mrs. Jellyby) to swear fealty to 6 (Davy Keith) or the other way around?
Mrs. Jellyby and Davy Keith! Mrs. Jellyby would evade any fealty-swearing by talking about all the letters she had to write, but I can hardly think that Davy would swear fealty to her. If he was somehow tricked into it, he would make up for it by giving her many unpleasant - and original - names behind her back.5: 5 (Herbert Pocket) is looking for a roommate. Should he board with 9 (Sydney Carton) or 10 (Marilla Cuthbert)?
Sydney Carton, most certainly. The two would get on quite well.6: 2 (Mrs. Jellyby), 7 (Eleanor Tilney) and 12 (Esther Summerson) are going out to dinner. Where are they going and what do they discuss?
Hopefully Mrs. Jellyby has to stay home because of all her letters to write, otherwise the dinner would be horrible. Whatever Eleanor and Esther talked about, it would be very sensible and sweet.7: 3 (Captain Wentworth) challenges 10 (Marilla Cuthbert) to a duel. Who wins?
The dear chivalrous Captain wouldn't challenge a lady (especially of Marilla's age) to a duel, so that crosses out this question. But just so you know, he wins Every. Single. Duel. he fights.8: If 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney) stole 8 (Marguerite Blakeney)'s most precious possession, how would she get it back?
Lovely coincidence! Marguerite's most precious possession stands six foot odd high and hath name Percy Blakeney, but it would be just weird to have him steal himself. As to her heart, he already stole it and I don't think she wants it back.

9: Suggest a story title in which 7 (Eleanor Tilney) and 12 (Esther Summerson) both attain what they want.
In any story with a happy ending Eleanor and Esther would get what they want. As to the title: Sense and Sweetness. 10: What kind of plot device would you have to use to get 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney) and 4 (Emma Woodhouse) to work together.
The plot device of a genius with an amazing imagination. 11: If 7 (Eleanor Tilney) visited you for the weekend, how would it go?
Wonderfully, although I'd feel a little shabby. Miss Tilney always wears white.12: If you could command 3 (Captain Wentworth) to perform any service or task for you what would it be?
Exist for real, please, and bring Anne to visit me. :)

13: If 2 (Mrs. Jellyby) had to choose sides between 4 (Emma Woodhouse) and 5 (Herbert Pocket), which side would she choose?
Herbert would treat her with just a little civility, so she'd choose him. Emma would insult her outright and give all the little Jellyby's sugar plums.14: What might 10 (Marilla Cuthbert) should out while charging into battle?
Marilla charging into battle! Somebody sure has an imagination. But I don't think she'd say anything, just charge15: If you had to choose a song that best describes 3 (Captain Wentworth) what would it be?
I have no clue, but it would be gorgeous, passionate, and sailorish.16: 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney), 6 (Davy Keith), and 12 (Esther Summerson) are having a dim sum at a Chinese Restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left , and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets it?
Odd's life, m'dear, Sir Percy isn't hungry. He's just so very fatigued.... Esther wouldn't take it if she thought Davy wanted it, and Davy would certainly want it!17: What would 5 (Herbert Pocket) most likely be arrested for?
Debt. No question about that.

18: What is 6 (Davy Keith)'s secret?
I. Have. No. Clue19: If 11 (Mr. Collins) and 9 (Sydney Carton) were racing to a destination, who would get there first?
I doubt whether Mr. Collins would get there at all (Other way, Mr. Collins!) but Sydney wouldn't do that much better, unless perhaps there was Lucie Manette or something he could do for her at the end.20: If you had to walk home through a bad neighborhood late at night, who would you be more comfortable walking with: 7 (Elinor Tilney) or 8 (Marguerite Blakeney)?
Marguerite, of course. If anything happens to us, Percy will come to the rescue.21: 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney) and 9 (Sydney Carton) reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4 (Emma Woodhouse)'s sinister secret organization. 11 (Mr. Collins) volunteers to help them,but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4 (Emma) Meanwhile, 4 (Emma) has kidnapped 12 (Esther Summerson) in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5 (Herbert Pocket), they seek out 3 (Captain Wentworth), who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fiction?

This is an idea! Emma's secret organization is made up of matchmakers with a plan to marry off the whole world. Sir Percy opposes them, because, what has the whole world done to be condemned to matrimony? Sydney would be reluctant, because he never does anything anyways and feels that he's useless. Mr. Collin's joins them because he pretends to hate marriage because his fair cousin has refused him. He spies for Emma because she's promised to matchmake for him. Emma kidnaps Esther and threatens to marry her to Mr. Collins unless they stop opposing her. Captain Wentworth first finds Mr. Knightley and then goes to Emma and promises to get married himself if she will stop matchmaking. Captain Wentworth's advice (and especially Mr. Knightley) causes Emma, now married herself, to agree to give up her plan and everyone lives happily ever after.

This book will be called Condemned to Matrimony and it will be an instant bestseller. :)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

And I loved it. I'm too busy right down to go into as much detail as I could, so suffice it to say that I LOVED it. You girls give excellent advice. This movie even reconciled me to eighteenth century men's pigtails. :)

The only thing I found to not like (read: absolutely love, except of course for parts of the Armand-Louise subplot) was the fact that they sometimes called Sir Percy Sir Percival. His name is Percy. I don't like the name Percival. 'Nuff said.

As I said, I'm pretty busy right know so you probably won't get a post from me for a while. But before I go, I must remind you that a gentleman always removes his COAT!

Very important advice, but alas, a moment is all I can spare for you dear bloggy-friends,

Well, I did. I know beforehand that Anthony Andrews would be amazingly perfect as Sir Percy, and even though Jane Seymour's looks aren't quite right for Marguerite, I was sure she would be brilliant regardless.

But after reading El Dorado (which the movie is partly based on) and being told some things about the movie from Miss Dashwood I found a completely different problem, by the name of Armand St. Just.

Problem 1: In the movie, Armand is living with a woman he hasn't married. Excuse me! Was that really necessary? In Armand's romance, there was nothing more than a few a lot of kisses and becoming engaged.

Problem 2: The woman is named Louise, and she's an understudy of Marguerite. But I liked Mademoiselle Lange (Armand's fiancee.) Under Sir Percy and Marguerite, she's probably my favorite character.

Problem 3: Armand is a member of the Commitee of Public Safety under Chauvelin. What!!! Armand is, must be, a member of the League. This ruins the whole theme of El Dorado and certainly will make Sir Percy's actions, as well as his and Marguerite's, appear in a totally different light.

This has probably been a very incoherent post, but I want advice from you. How does it portray Armand? Should I watch it?

Many happy returns on your birthday!I have to thank you for bringing my dear Catherine and me together, and for also letting Eleanor finally marry her viscount.But the shocking story you said I told Catherine!I read it - my hair standing on end the whole time.I’m sure my dear Catherine would pronounce it quite horrid.Apart from that, I very much enjoyed your telling of our romance, for the person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.

I feel myself called, by my situation in life, to congratulate on your advancing age, in which I am joined by Lady Catherine and her daughter, and also by Charlotte.

Lady Catherine is most affable, and her kindness is very offended at the marriage of her nephew to my cousin, especially considering that horrible elopement of her sister.And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain event of last November; for had it been otherwise, I would have shared in their disgrace and not have married my dear Charlotte.

I remain, madam, with respectful compliments, your well-wisher and friend,

You think I'm very obsessed? Well, so do I, but it is very pleasant to be obsessed.

We seek him here, we seek him there,

Those fangirls seek him everywhere!﻿

Is that really not how it goes?

Well, in case you don't know what I'm talking about, I will try to coherently explain.

*tries unsuccessfully to snap out of crazy fangirl mode*

His name is Sir Percy Blakeney. He is really too amazing to be an ordinary human, but so much the better. I like larger-than-life and better-than-life heroes. :) And sink me, m'dear, but he really is larger than life. He can find a solution to every situation, is horribly (yes, horribly; some of those he impersonates are quite horrible) good at acting and impersonating, is and impudent, and has excellent taste in cravats. :D

Er, Chauvelin. He is Sir Percy's worst enemy and someone who you love to hate. He is very good at concocting plans against Sir Percy, but his problem is just that. They're against Sir Percy, so he doesn't have a chance.

And then there is Marguerite, Lady Blakeney. She and I have much in common, I think, especially our craziness about Sir Percy. But while she always does something impulsive whenever Percy is in danger, I think indesisive me, worrying that it would mess up his plans, would stay at home and cry. Whenever Marguerite does something impulsive I feel like saying:

One of my real stubbornesses about her is that everybody gets her looks wrong. She is beautiful, yes, but her hair is blonde. It has to be. Baroness Orczy speaks of her hair as 'golden glory' and a certificate that seems to have been made for her describes her as having 'light hair, blue eyes.'

So far I have read The Scarlet Pimpernel, El Dorado, and The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. If you haven't read any of these, well, as Alexandra says, get thee to a library!

Blessings,
P.S. If you happen to see me sometime in the near future, I'll probably be doing math. And the math will probably consist of staring at horrible algebra problems and writing over all my scrap paper: "I seek it here, I seek it there, I seek the answer everywhere!"

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

1 - What was the first JA novel you ever read, and who introduced you to it?Pride and Prejudice, which I read after I watched the 2005 movie at a birthday party.

2 - Which is your least favorite JA novel, and why? (Everybody posts about their favorites... I want to know what's at the bottom of your list!) Oh no, how do I decide........ My least favorite can't be Northanger Abbey, and it can't be Mansfield Park, and it can't be Emma, and it certainly can't be Persuasion, so that leaves me with Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

What! Those used to be my favorites! Oh well...................

3 - Who do you think is the funniest character JA ever created? Mrs. Bennet would be the funniest overall, but for the funniest that I'd love to meet and talk to it would be Henry Tilney.

4 - Which JA villain[ess] do you love to hate? Hmmmmm, I think it would be Mr. Elliot. I have absolutely no good feeling towards him.
Oh, and Frank Churchill. If he would only make himself a little nicer so that I'd have an easier time defending him.....

6 - If you were to "start" someone on JA, which book would you recommend to them first and why? Probably Pride and Prejudice, because, although it's not my favorite anymore, it's easier to get into and understand than something like Mansfield Park.

7 - What is your absolute favorite JA film adaptation and why? Probably Sense and Sensibility 1995, because it all together is soooo beautiful.

8 - If you could authorize a new film adaptation of one of JA's novels, which would it be and why? Mansfield Park, certainly, so that they can use the script I hope to write. But until the script's done, they can do proper adaptations of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. (No weirdness in Northanger Abbey, please and Anne Elliot must not run all over Bath looking for Capt. Wentworth.)

9 - Which JA character do you most identify with?
Probably Elizabeth Bennet or Marianne Dashwood (or Catherine Morland or Anne Elliot or...)

10 - If you could have lunch with JA today, what question would you most like to ask her?
What's your favorite dish? Um, no. How do you figure out all your plots?

11 - Is there any one thing that you think could have been improved upon in one (or all) of JA's books? What is it and why? She could have written Edmund, Edward, Col. Brandon, and Henry Tilney's proposals.

Oh yes, and she could have made one of her characters a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Henry Tilney, perhaps, or maybe Mr. Darcy.

12 - If you could have lunch with one of JA's characters today, who would it be and why?
Probably Henry Tilney, because he is so pleasantly witty, or Anne Elliot, because I'd really like to see what she looks like. :)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Jane Austen Birthday Week at Between the Covers. This celebration has some very challenging challenges including 'read[ing] two Austen novels, five Austen spin offs, sequels, and/or diaries, PLUS watch[ing] an Austen film.' I'm not sure I'll manage that since I've read all of the novels pretty recently and I have a hard time finding good spin-offs.

Lost in Austen book review at Regency Delight. This create your own Jane Austen adventure book sounds intruiging, and I'm greatly looking forward to reading it.

Northanger Abbey Quiz at Old Fashioned Charm. I love the quizes that Miss Laurie does, and although I didn't get a very good score, that just a reason to reread Northanger Abbey, right?

It's the Wee Things at Of Trims and Frills and Furbellows. I LOVE these. I think I'd want to visit Alexandra and steal, um, just happen to take, some of these. She's used three of my absolute favorite books, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Random Silliness at Yet Another Period Drama Blog. I laughed so much when I read this. I think most of us are officially obsessed with The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Or that's what I hope. I now officially have the inspiration for a new novel and if it turns out as I hope it will be amazing. Here are my ideas:

Title: Divided Loyalty: the Story of a Man Without a CountryMMC(stands for male main character, or, in this case, main main character) name: someone whose first name is probably Richard, Rene, or Sidney and whose last name doesn't matter as much, as long as it is thoroughly French.FMC (female main character, or, in this case, the mainest female character) name: Aurelie ---------Setting: Europe in the Napoleaonic War, circa 1805 - 1815Genre: Historical fiction, of course, but with elements of adventure and romanceTense: It will be in first person past tense, with maybe a few historical elements in third person present tense. It will be different, but I hope great things from it.What I am trying very hard to do with it: make it an amazing book, and try not to plagarize too much from Dumas' The Last Cavalier. [Note: I do not recommend everything in that book, but it has excellent plot line, characters, and writing style. I wish it wasn't unfinished.]Summary/Excerpt:

I was born in Austria.My father was French, my mother English.They had barely a year together before I was born and barely a few weeks together afterwards.My father was killed in a skirmish by the English, my mother in a raid by the French.When I grew more than a very small boy I did not care for playing and I had no use for religion, but I hated those who had killed my parents.

When I had just turned sixteen Napolean Bonaparte began another campaign against the English.Most boys would have joined one side or the other for adventure and revenge, but what could I do?I hated them both.

In this war every man has to chose sides. Which side will he chose? And what will happen after he makes his decision?

And that is all I have written. I hope to update soon!
P.S. All my writing and ideas are copyright me. Please do not steal them.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Second of all, Miss Laurie gave me the Stylish Blogger Award. Thank you so much, dear!

The rules are:

Thank the blogger who awarded you and link back to them.

List seven random facts about yourself.

Award five other bloggers.

So, for the seven random facts:

1: I have one name that is my real name, one that most people call me, a couple nicknames, one name that I use on my blog, and two that I use when I talk to myself, depending on the mood I'm in. :P

2: As you might have seen, I'm obsessed about names. Naming the main character is one of the most important decisions I make about my novels. And if the name of someone in somebody else's book doesn't fit the character, well, I go crazy.

3: As you also might have seen, I talk to myself. A lot.

4: The amount of blog posts that I've written in my head but never posted would absolutely swamp you. It might be better if I wasn't busy when I thought them up.

5: My hair is so long and thick that after I recently got a layered cut, some of my friends didn't notice but just commented on how long and thick it was!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Um, I said that wrong. I'm going to lose NaNo - on one of the sites.
The other one, well - I won it.

I finished my novel barely ten minutes ago with 38,924 words. Or at least, that's according to Microsoft Word. According to the YWP word count validator I have 39,135 words. Oh well, I don't mind a few extra :)

My novel is all nicely finished with a conclusion, an epilogue, and a table of contents (did you know how many 'words' you can get from a table of contents?) and there is nothing more to be put into it, to push me up to 50,000 words. And besides, there's no way I could write more than 10,000 words by midnight, but don't tell anybody; it's a secret. :P

Considering that I got about 39,000 words (3 times more than last years word count) and this is the first year that (age-wise) I was allowed on the main site, I think I did pretty good.

Even if I lost.

But really, I don't mind not having gotten 50,000 words. I was busy this month and S&S week didn't help my word count at all. (Note to self: don't try to write a novel and host a blog week at the same time, both suffer.)
But I'm pretty sure I can get 50,000 next year and for now I have a nicely completed novel and the promise of five free copies of it. That's enough to make anybody jump for joy.

24,155. Yes, that means ouch. I still plan to catch up to 50,000 in the next week, though.

What would you consider is best about your novel: plot, dialog, characters, or description?

As Chris Baty said (the founder of Nano, in his book No Plot, No Problem. I don't remember his exact words) "The things I'm not so good at? Plot, dialog, characters, and description. The things I'm good at? Coffee-drinking and complaining." Yup, that's me.

But I think that for this novel I've made great headway in plot and dialog and I love my characters, although they won't stay consistent and are often cliche.

Which of the above would you consider your weakest point?

I keep forgetting to describe, and then when I finally remember I only put it in for the word count. Another problem I have is not keeping the minor characters and subplots wrapped properly into the story.

Of all your characters who do you like the best?

Oh, you had to ask me that! I must say I love Anna, and she's getting a lot of my thoughts and feelings (rather egotistical, don't you think?) Derek is a challenge, both to me and to Anna, because I'm trying to make him mischievous boy and perfect hero at the same time. Another character I really like is Clarence, but he's trying to take the real hero's place so I'm trying to make him as shady as possible. Sorry for the long list, but I also like Meredith Elliston (a shameless plagarisation of Anne Elliot) and a young society woman named Muriel, although I'm not sure where she's going to fit in the story.

What was the inspiration for your novel?

Well, I first started the novel, and then I got the inspiration.The current piece of writing is so different from the original idea that I won’t even talk about it.

How long have you been doing Nano?

I did the young writer’s program last year and the year before.

What other writing projects have you completed or are in the process of writing?

One novelette of Medieval England, one of reformation-era France, one unfinished Austeneque romance that goes under the title of ‘Regency novel’ and a couple of short stories and poems.

What would you consider the funniest line in your novel?

“And Derek Randall is a – an alligator!”

If Mrs. Wilson was surprised she did not show it. “Why is that?” she inquired mildly.

Anna poured out her story. “He came up to me as I was walking to school. He was carrying his lunch pail and a frog.When I saw the frog he threw it into the bushes, but, Mama, Bertha was carrying his lunch because he said he lost his pail.He had it and it was filled with frogs!”

Mrs. Wilson had to swallow hard to keep from laughing, but Anna was not feeling particularly mirthful. “He put all, – all, Mama, those frogs into my and Bertha’s desk!

Go to the 11th page of your novel and paste the last paragraph here.

When Mrs. Randall had left, Bertha sat down, “Mother means well,” she said, “But I know Miss Elliston wouldn’t want the story repeated, so can you promise me to say nothing about it?”

This paragraph needs to be read in context. It’s just after Mrs. Randall gives Anna a full history of Miss Elliston’s former romance, telling her that she forgot the name of the young man. Bertha knows who it is and doesn’t want gossip to go around about it.

What time period is your novel set in?

The Victorian Era. 1881, to be precise.

Please paste here the paragraph you consider the best.

Oh, please no.I’m not sure which paragraph is the best.I do like the passage I posted a while ago, though.

What are you planning to do when your novel is all written and edited? Writing wise, that is.

Hmmm, I’ll probably be trying to smooth out the chaos and fill in the lines of ‘Regency Novel.’And I’ll find a title for this one.

Blessings,
P. S. To all of you in the US; have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm in Canada, and we have our Thanksgiving in October, which is good right now, because there's snow on the ground.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

You have all voted in the Sense and Sensibility fanfiction contest and the winner is

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The Anne-girl!!!

Her poem, 'Ode to the Key of F Major' won with 44% of the votes. You can read her poem here. 'Ode to the Key of F Major' was especially wonderful because the Anne-girl had a very interesting and unique idea, and carried it into poetry amazingly.

The other, almost as amazing entries were:

'Elinor' by Lexi and 'Margaret's London Season' by Miss Laurie tied for 2nd place

Thursday, November 17, 2011

There are two characters I forgot to tell you about in the last post, and since they're getting more and more important to the story, I'll tell you about them now.

Muriel Blake is young, educated and elegant. She's only had one scene in my novel so far, but she's written a couple of letters to Miss Elliston and soon I'll be able to write a bit more about her.

Clarence Elliston is a pleasant sort of guy who can be serious but not too serious, funny but not too funny. Right now he reminds me thoroughly of Frank Churchill, and everybody likes him. Not me, though. He persists in getting into the story where he's not wanted.

This is an excerpt from the very first chapter of my novel.

Her half-spoken thoughts were arrested by the sight of a girl not much older than herself, maybe fifteen.She was leaning against one of the few large trees in the farm, and her face was white.She looked in disbelief at the man who had sold them the farm.He came up to her.

“I’m sorry, Muriel,” he said, “I had to sell the farm – I have to leave.”

The girl looked up at him with a pale, but understanding face.Anna was shocked at its intensity.

“I have to go away from here, Muriel.I’m going north.”

“North!” the girl gasped, “To where there’s nothing but snow, and trees, and wolves?”

“Yes, and further if I can.But I won’t be such a brute as to ask you to go along with me.You can finish your education with your grandmother in Kingston.”

“And Andrew?”Anna, rather close, but screened from their notice by a large canopy of bright leaves, looked where she pointed, to a young boy playing with a group of youngsters.He brandished a stick and cried, “Let’s get ‘im!” upon which the whole group set in hot pursuit of a rather startled squirrel.

“He’ll go with you, of course.He’s never been much for cities and learning, but he’ll get used to it now.”

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I loved having my blog called 'Miss Georgiana Darcy', but I think its time for a change. My blog is having less and less to do with the real Georgiana, and while I like signing myself Miss Georgiana, it's confusing having my real name and another name just for fun. What do you think? I still don't know what I'd change it to, but I've always loved this nonsense poem.

The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

What would you think if I had 'Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing-Wax' as my blog name? Any comments and suggestions are thoroughly welcome.

And so I sign myself (perhaps for the last time)

P.S. Sometime when I can think you'll have another post about my nano novel, so stay tuned! And, for Miss Dashwood, Anna and Bertha are about fifteen and Derek is just a little older.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

This is perhaps what Anna would look like, but her hair is lighter, I think.

A feisty, quick-tempered, inwardly humorous main character, Anna is not romantic like Marianne Dashwood, but she is certainly 'everything but prudent.' She thinks quite a bit, and is always ready to recognize the ridiculous. She is Extremely Vexed with her best friend's brother, a boy by the name of Derek, and she has an addiction to Sir Walter Scott's novels. :)

This hair is definately too dark, but
it sort of reminds me of Bertha.

I think this is how Bertha would look, but I'm not quite sure yet.

Bertha is her sweet and quiet friend; a combination of Ada Clare and Esther Summerson, I think. She observes many things, but will find that some of her observations have rather missed their mark.

Pretty much a good picture, only Derek
is younger and not so dark. And OK,
he's good looking, but not that good
looking.

This is another option.......

Derek is the one always ready for a saucy answer, or a teasing joke. Anna found him amusing at first, but in the recent chapters, after a few (well thought up!) jokes on her, she cannot find anything better than to call him an alligator (I know, Anna's descriptions are rather odd, sometimes.) He seems to have borrowed a bit from Laurie Laurence (at his worst behavior), a bit from Gilbert Blythe, a bit from Frank Churchill, and (I hope), even a bit from Henry Tilney.

Miss Meredith Elliston is a shameless plagarisation of Anne Elliot. She is about thirty three, and moved west with her brother and sister-in-law sixteen years ago to be a schoolteacher. She is capable and, it seems, contented, and very few people understand the true story of her heartbreak. As you might see, I'm not quite sure of her looks, but she is rather plain and pretty at the same time, and she has Anne's Elliot's 'elegant little figure.'

Now, take all these characters, add a couple more who I don't have time to tell you about, send them to 19th century Saskatchewan (then part of the North-West Territories) and what do you think you'd get? Chaos?

Yup. What else would you get with Anna and Derek living in the same town? Derek loves it that way. Anna doesn't.

Have a nice day!
P.S. I'm going back to my novel. Anna and Derek are in a spelling bee together, and Miss Elliston is just about ready to make Anna spell 'animosity'. Yes, she'll do it looking pointedly at Derek. ;P

13 c,d,e his sister-in-law, named Eliza, a near relative (quite a few people missed the 'near relative' part, but Colonel B. did say it, and I'm presuming she was his cousin, because his father was her guardian.)

14 c,d He had been told that Marianne was dying. He wanted to explain himself. (He wanted to talk to Elinor, not Marianne.

15 c because it would be dishonourable

16 a she ran out of the room and burst into tears of joy

17 b esteem and friendship

Isn't it funny that the two last questions show them doing 'out of character' things? Elinor runs out of the room and bursts into tears when she hears some surprising news, and Marianne marries a man with only esteem and friendship.

Friday, November 11, 2011

With all due respect to the dear Colonel (whom, I can assure you, I like a great deal) I prefer Edward. He is underappreciated, and doesn't always make perfect descisions, but he always acts like a gentleman, even if he isn't perfect. And, without the crushing sense of his secret engagement and as he grows up more, I think he will be quite less of a social failure than his brother Robert seems to think. Besides, there must be something in him to make Elinor like him so much. And, agreeing with Marianne, I have some objections to a man more than twice my age as Colonel Brandon is. Disagreeing with her though, and to Edward's vindication, I don't think that poetry can be read aloud properly and expressively. It needs to be read just to yourself, or, perhaps, to Elinor alone. And Edward has a nice sense of humor, too.

I'm saying that I like Marianne better than Elinor, though it is rather a toss-up. Marianne is musical, loves poetry and the picturesque, and is fiercely loyal and affectionate. She doesn't say anything but what she means, so you can always count on her honesty, and she goes by extremes, which is extremely interesting. ;P

Who is your favorite? Please comment or, if you have enough time, write a whole blog post about it!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

1: When did you first read Sense and Sensibility? Have you
reread it since?
I first read it in the spring of 2010; it was the second of Jane Austen's works that I read. I think I've re-read it once or twice since, and I listened to it on audiobook a few weeks ago.

2:
When did you first watch Sense and Sensibility? Which adaptation was
it?
I watched the 1995 version on my birthday, late 2010, and loved it. More recently I watched the 2008 version.

3: If you have watched/heard of more than one
adaptation which one was your favorite?
I'm honestly not sure. I don't remember much of Emma Thompson's Elinor, but I loved Hattie Morahan's, especially since she was the right age. Kate Winslet's Marianne was amazing, whereas Charity Wakefield's comes across more as a overemotional teenager. I'm not sure about Edward, although I loved Dan Steven's portrayal. As for Colonel Brandon, I think Alan Rickman did a great job playing him, but David Morrisey is the age he's supposed to be, so that counts for a lot. The 2008 version was very faithful to the book, and had beautiful scenery, but the 1995 one has an AMAZING soundtrack and there's something almost magical about it - so I can't make up my mind.

4: Which three S&S characters drive you
crazy?
Willoughby. He could have been so much - he had every advantage - but he was ruined by himself. arrrrrrrg.

John Dashwood. 'Not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold-hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed.' He knows that he should be doing something for his sisters, but he always finds a way to get out of it. I think it is quite likely that he told Fanny of his intention to give his sisters 1000 apiece just so that she could talk him out of it.

Mrs. Jennings. She has such good intentions, but talks a lot and makes so many problems. As the Anne-girl said in her poem, "So Mrs. Jennings please do hush!"5: Which heroine are you most like: Elinor or
Marianne?
I used to think I was most like Marianne, with her romance and her poetry, and her music, but I'm like Elinor with her subtle sense of humor, attention to social conventions and silly people, and not being intirely open about her feelings. I'd be like the Margaret too, in the 2008 film (Don't say anything until I come back!)

6: Who would be most enjoyable: (or bearable)
Mr. Palmer or Mrs. Palmer?
Mrs. Palmer would be the most enjoyable and amusing, whereas Mr. Palmer is boring but, to misquote Elinor, 'I confess that at Cleveland I would not think of tame and quiet people with any repugnance.'

7: What would be your
reaction if you saw a re-write of Sense and Sensibility where it was
Elinor who married Colonel Brandon?
Well, obviously I thought it was an interesting idea, or I wouldn't have put it in the questions, but really, they're pre-made to be brother and sister, sort of like with Edward and Marianne.

8: Where does
Sense and Sensibility rank in your list of favorite Austen novels?
My favorites list is so mixed up right now, but I think that S&S would probably be somewhere after Northanger Abbey, Emma, and Persuasion.

Who is the funnies, cleverest, silliest, most annoying, and all round most favorite supporting character is Sense and Sensibility? In my new poll (on the right sidebar this time) you can vote about it! Here are the characters you can vote about. I didn't put in Willoughby and Lucy Steele since they're villains instead of supporting characters.

Who is your favorite supporting character?

Mrs. Dashwood

Margaret Dashwood

Mrs. Jennings

Mrs. Palmer

Mr. Palmer

John Dashwood

Fanny Dashwoood

Sir John Middleton

Lady Middleton

Anne (Nancy) Steele

Mrs. Ferrars

Robert Ferrars

Have fun voting!

EDIT: I'm sorry that I couldn't put them all in the same poll, so now they're in three different ones, and the winners of those will go against each other in a later poll.

yours truly

Hi! I'm Maria Elisabeth, but friends just call me Maria or Maribeth. Jesus Christ is my heart song and I love looking for the true, the good, and the beautiful, especially in literature and music.
Welcome to my blog and I hope you stay a while. I'd love to get to know you!

my prayer

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

~from St. Patrick's prayer

He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Eliot

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